Match played away at the
Tilery Sports Centre.
This was a mixed weather day of
sun , wind and a shower.
It was clear from the kick off
Stockton would stop us at all costs. Early on Hudson was put
through but an excellent save from the opposition keeper
kept the game 0-0. Stockton were trying to play a fast game,
breaking quickly causing problems for our defence. Hudson
was then brought down in the penalty area and the referee
instead of awarding a penalty gave Stockton a free kick and
warned Hudson for diving (ludicrous decision). Hudson was
then again hauled back when the Stockton Player grabbed his
shirt. The defender was the last man and should have been
sent off but only a free kick was given. The referee
continued to give ridiculous decisions. However, from a free
kick by Hoggard the ball hit the crossbar rebounding to
Atkinson who headed against the bar and the ball going for a
goal kick. Stockton continued to cause us problems and
wasted several chances. Eventually we scored from an
excellent free kick by Whiley from outside the box. There
were some tackles by the opposition that went unpunished and
were high and dangerous. Hudson continually had his shirt
pulled. The ref had no real grip on the game. We were
playing twelve men. They then won a retaken corner ?r from
which unchallenged was firmly headed by a Stockton player
into the net. The half time score being 1-1. The second half
began and the ref continued to bemuse everyone when missing
obvious and blatant fouls and appeared to be making up non
existing fouls. They then scored from a controversial goal
when a Saltburn player was adjudged to have fouled a
Stockton player (genuine tackle attempt which the Stockton
player skipped over the attempt tackle but with no
connection made lost control of the ball and lost it). The
ref brought play back for the alleged foul which angered the
players and Saltburn coaches and to rub salt into the
wounds, the free kick was hammered home from just outside
the box. The Saltburn players were disheartened and
no wonder with these decisions. Stockton then scored a third
and it was game over. The last ten minutes eventually saw
the ref give some correct decisions though the final act by
the ref again caused anger when Axe was sent through on goal
and a defender wrapped his arms around him and hauled him
back. Again the last defender and a red card offence. The
ref said play on. I am not saying we lost this because of
the ref but what's the point of playing when its not a level
playing field. Well done to Saltburn for keeping their
discipline. MOM was Charlie Whitfield though Keeper Walters
deserves a mention as does HItchen and Williams.
